The Depression Solutions Workbook: A Strengths and Skills-Based Approach

The Depression Solutions Workbook: A Strengths and Skills-Based Approach

No one wants to be depressed, yet there are millions of depressed people in the world who find it nearly impossible to pull themselves out of depression using traditional therapeutic methods. Because depression depletes motivation and self-esteem, sufferers often feel powerless to take control of the disorder. The Depression Solutions Workbook integrates three proven-effective therapies-two designed to motivate the depressed person to change and one designed to target the root of the depression-that work together to combat the most common symptoms of depression: lack of motivation to make positive changes; negative self-talk and irrational beliefs; and use of harmful coping mechanisms. The first therapy, solution-focused therapy, encourages readers to develop their own personal set of solutions to depression based on evidence of positive actions they have taken in the past. This therapy helps readers remember the steps they took to overcome past hardships and shows them how to harness these same skills to move past depression. The second therapy, motivational interviewing, offers readers a way to find and maintain motivation for behavior change. Finally, readers are introduced to cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) skills that help them silence negative self-talk and eliminate irrational beliefs about themselves. Clinical trials have shown that CBT is as effective as antidepressant medication, even among severely depressed patients. This workbook can be used together with medication or alone to treat this debilitating disorder and help sufferers become motivated and active.